Golf shaft or the like



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D F BOYDEN GOLF SHAFT OR THE LIKE Filed July 51, 1926 a way/z Sept. 27, 1927.

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DWIGHT F. BOYDEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GOLF SHAFT OR THE LIKE.

Application filed July 31,

This invention has relation to golf clubs or the like, being more particularly con-- 'erned with a shaft construction especially "suitable therefor, and has for its object to provide shafts with which optimum stroklng power may be realized, and which will resist undesirable torsional and bending stresses.

This object is attained by constructing the driving or head end entirely of a material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stresses, and the grip end entirely of a material capable of giving great power to the stroke, and by properly CllS tributing each material intermedlate the ends. Preferably, this distribution is such that each material gradually decreases in amount from the end made entirely thereof toward the opposite end made entirely of the other material.

Further-features and advantages, details and combinations of parts will appear from a more complete description of an embodiment of the invention shown on the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front viewof a shaft embodying the present invention. 1

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 2-2, 3-3, H, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows in perspective the shaft assembled with a head.

Referring to the drawings, the shaft as a whole isdesignated as s and as shown tapers as usual from the grip toward the drive or head end. The shaft comprises a core I) intermediate its ends made of a material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stress, such as hickory, and which. gradually decreases in -5size from the drive or head end to the grip end of the shaft. A short distance above the drive end portion of the core it is grooved at its sides, preferably along planes 0, d, meeting at right. angles to form recesses r gradually increasing both in depth and width toward the drive end of the shaft to the point 70 where the core terminates by merger of the grooves. A solid head end portion a of circular section and of proper length to absorb bending and torsional stresses is left. To facilitatecutting, the surfaces of out 0 and (Z converge sharply toward each. other at their lower ends 6, f, as shown in Figure 1. Four recesses are formed, producing a core cf cross shape, the Wing portions having the desired characteristics. may

1926. Serial No. 126,141.

w of which gradually increase in depth and decrease in width or taper toward the upper end of the core, finally terminating in knife edges at is. A series of segmental strips 9 of a resilient orwhippy material which will give great power to the stroke, such as bamboo, are cut to fit nicely within the recesses 7', and are laid in the recesses and secured in place as by glue. The upper portions p of the strips extend for the desired distance above the point is of the core and are united together to form the substantially solid handle or grip portion 9 of the shaft. Preferably, the inner corners 11 of the strips are slightly rounded 0E, to prevent contact with the core which might tend to push the strips outwardly by the flexing of the core when underthestresses of use.

As shown in Figure 7 the shaft is assembled with the club head. it. The assembly is made so that two ofthe wing portions or of the core lie in the medial planes of the shaft and head, and other two lie in a plane at right angles thereto and intersecting the same in the median line of the shaft. Such an assembly is very effective against the stresses of use. I I

A built-up shaft such as described is not liable to failure, since the driving or head end portion is formed as a solid piececapable of absorbing to the desired extent the stresses of bending and torsion occasioned by a stroke, the upper or grip end is made of material designed to give great power to the stroke, and the two materials are proportioned intermediate its ends in accordancewith the distribution of the stresses therealong, and to give the proper feel and-life to the club.

Heretofore. built-up or laminated shafts were objectionable, owing to the fact that the, glued laminations. extended for the entire length of the shaft. and consequently were subjected at the drive or head end to torsional and bending stresses which they frequently could not withstand, and at the same time to' give the necessary driving power. Furthermore, the laminations were of such cross-sectional shape that bending or torsional stresses tended to separate them.

In place of hickory and bamboo as materialsof construction, other materials e used, such, for example, as ash,;satiii-wood place f the hickory, and

black palm, lance-wood, snake-wood or noib- "wood in place of the bamboo.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention, it is evident that it is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shaft comprising a driving or head end made entirely of solid material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending strain. and a grip endv made entirely of a different material capable of giving {great power to the driving stroke, said materials complement-ally overlapping intermediate the head and grip ends.

,2. A sha-ft comprising a driving end made entirely of material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending strains, anda grip end made entirely of material capable of giving great power to the driving stroke, each material gradually decreasing in amount from the end made entirely thereof toward the other end.

3. Ashaft comprising a driving end made entirely of hickory, and a grip end made entirely of bamboo, said materials complementally overlapping intermediate the said ends and each material gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area from the end made thereof toward the opposite end made of the other material.

4. A shaft comprising :a core of material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stresses and one or head end of which constitutes the drive end ofsaid shaft, and a series of strips of a material capable of giving great power to the stroke laid into said core and gradually increasing in cross-sectional area from a point above one end of the core to a point beyond the other end of the core.

'5. A shaft comprising a core having an end, portion of circular section and beyond -said portion having recesses cut at its sides gradually increasing in size toward the other end of the core, and a series of strips laid and secured in the recesses and extending beyond the end of the core, said core hing of a material adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stresses and said strips being of material capable of giving great power to the stroke.

A "6. .A shaft tapering from end to end corn prising a core having an end portion of circular section and beyond said portion having four recesses each gradually increasin' in depth and width. toward the other and of the shaft, and strips laid and secured in the recesses and extending beyond the core to form a handle portion, said core being of a material adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stresses and said strips being of material capable of giving great power to the stroke.

a material adapted for absorbing torsional and. bending stresses and said strips being of material capable of giving great power to the stroke. 7 i

8. A shaft comprising a core having an end portion of circular section and beyond said end portion grooved out to a section of cross shape and having wing portions which gradually increase in length and decrease in width toward the other end of the core. and strips laid and secured in the grooves and eXtending beyond the core to form a handle portion, said core being of a material particularly adaptedfor absorbing torsional and bending stresses and said strips being of material capableof giving great power to the stroke. 7

9. A golf club comprising a head, a shaft assembled with said head and comprising a core having an end portion of circular section grooved out to a section of cross shape and having wing portions which gradually increase in length and decrease in width toward the other end of the core, two of said wing portions lying in the vertical medial planes of the shaft and head, and the other two lying in a plane at right angles thereto and intersecting same in the median line'of the shaft, and strips laid and secured in the grooves and extending beyond the core to form a handle portion, said core being of a material particularly adapted for absorbing torsional and bending stresses and said strips being of material "capable of giving great power to the stroke.

10, A shaft comprising a core having an end portion of circular section, and beyond saidportion havnig recesses cut at sides gradually increasing in size toward the other end of the core, a series of strips laid and secured in the recesses and extending beyond theend of the core and secured together to form the grip end of the shaft.

11. A shaft for golf clubs, coinrising two overlapping and interlocking sections respectively forming the grip end and the head end of the shaft, said sections having longitudinally extending 'complem'ental tongues and recesses located intermediate the ends of the shaft.

12. A golf club shaft comprising a core of resilient wood having the portion of its length between its butt end and its waist of cross sectional contour to provide longitudinal faces, and strlps of wood possessing a greater degree of hardness than the core disposed against and united to the said faces, the said strips merging with the surface of the core at the waist of the shaft. 13. A golf club shaft comprising a core of resilient wood having its waist of circular form in cross section and from its waist to its butt end being of cross sectional contour to provide longitudinal faces, and strips of wood possessing a greater degree of hardness than the core disposed against and united to said faces, the said strips being of decreasing width inthe direction of the said waist and merging with the surface of the core at the said waist.

14. A golf club shaft comprising a core of resilient wood having the portion of its length between its waist and its butt end of gradually decreasing cross sectional dimensions and of a cross sectional contour to provide longitudinal faces, and strips of wood possessing a greater degree of hardness than the core disposed against and united to the said faces, the said strips decreasing in thickness and width from the butt end of the shaft to the waist of the shaft and merging with the surface of the core at the said waist.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

DWIGHT F. BOYDEN. 

